More than 1,000 dead in Mecca during Hajj amid extreme heat

More than 1,000 people have died during this year’s hajj – the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca – according to a Reuters tally as extreme heat plagued the nearly two million pilgrims taking part. Most of the dead were Egyptians. Security and medical sources told Reuters today that the Egyptian death toll had risen to 672, with another 25 missing. According to data from the Indonesian government, a total of 236 Indonesians have lost their lives, while the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has announced that 98 Indian citizens have died during the hajj. More deaths were reported from Tunisia, Jordan, Iran and Senegal making this year’s pilgrimage the deadliest with at least 1,114 dead, according to a Reuters tally. A crisis management unit tasked with investigating the situation said in a statement today that it has suspended the licenses of 16 tourism offices and referred them to prosecutors, accusing […]
Source: News Beast

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